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Nigerian authorities have deported 102 foreign nationals, including 60 Chinese and 39 Filipinos, following their convictions for cybercrime offenses linked to romance-driven cryptocurrency scams. The action, spearheaded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), underscores Nigeria’s intensified efforts to dismantle transnational online fraud networks operating within its borders.
The deportation, announced by the EFCC on Thursday, marks one of the most significant crackdowns against organized internet fraud in recent years. These scams typically involved perpetrators building deceptive romantic relationships online to manipulate victims, often from North America and Europe, into making fraudulent cryptocurrency investments.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale revealed that an additional group of 39 Filipinos, 10 Chinese nationals, and two individuals from Kazakhstan had also been expelled since August 15. He confirmed that further deportations are expected in the coming days as investigations continue.
The recent wave of deportations stems from a major operation conducted in December in Lagos’ affluent Victoria Island district, where authorities apprehended 792 suspected cybercriminals. Among those detained, 192 were foreign nationals, with Chinese citizens forming the largest group of suspects, according to EFCC records.
Images released by the agency depicted several of the deportees, mostly Asian men, wearing surgical masks as they were escorted through airport check-in points.
Nigeria, long associated with internet fraud schemes often referred to locally as “Yahoo Boys,” has become a hub for both homegrown and foreign cybercrime syndicates. The EFCC reports that many of these international groups recruit local operatives to help identify targets online and facilitate the scams.
Victims are typically lured through phishing tactics and fake online personas, with criminals seeking money transfers or sensitive personal data, including banking passwords and login details.
Experts warn that these fraudulent schemes are becoming increasingly advanced, leveraging emerging digital tools and evolving strategies to deceive victims. Many of those targeted invest not only personal savings but also borrowed funds and business capital, only to lose everything to the scams.
Cybersecurity analysts have raised concerns about Nigeria’s vulnerability, citing inadequate online security infrastructure that has attracted foreign “cybercrime syndicates” to exploit loopholes in the system.
The EFCC has pledged to continue its aggressive pursuit of cybercriminal networks, promising further arrests and deportations as part of its ongoing campaign to restore international trust in Nigeria’s digital and financial sectors.